Comments You Will Not Hear at the 02-01-09 WT Study (November 15, 2008, pages 27-31 )(OPPOSE DEVIL)Review comments will be in red
WT material from today's WT will be in black
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"OPPOSE THE DEVIL" AS JESUS DID
"Oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you."--JAS 4:7
OPENING COMMENTS
Notice how often the WTS uses brackets [ ] to "explain" the meaning of a scripture.
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Paragraph 1: "I shall put enmity between you and the woman [the heavenly part of Jehovah's organization] and between your seed and her seed. He [Jesus Christ] will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel." (Gen. 3:14, 15; Rev. 12:9)
Paragraph 6: the prophet Daniel foretold: "In the days of those kings [existing in our day] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom [in heaven] that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms [now existing], and it itself will stand to times indefinite." (Dan. 2:44)
Paragraph 7: "Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [Jesus Christ]." (Rev. 7:9-14)
Paragraph 16: "If you, although being [imperfect and thus comparatively] wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!" (Luke 11:13) Let us continue praying to Jehovah for his holy spirit. With this most powerful force backing us up in our determination to oppose the Devil, we will be able to come off victorious. In addition to regular and fervent prayer, we need to put on the complete suit of spiritual armor from God in order 'to stand firm against the machinations, or crafty acts, of the
Devil.--Eph. 6: 11-18.
So why does the WTS feel it is necessary to insert their explanation in the scripture itself? I would wager that at least 50% of jws don't even have a clue that this is adding to the Bible.
START OF ARTICLE
Q 1. What opposition did Jesus know he would face on earth, and with what outcome?
JESUS CHRIST knew that he would face opposition from the Devil. This fact was apparent from what God said to the serpent and thus to the wicked spirit rebel speaking through it: "I shall put enmity between you and the woman [the heavenly part of Jehovah's organization] and between your seed and her seed. He [Jesus Christ] will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel." (Gen. 3:14, 15; Rev. 12:9) Jesus' being bruised in the heel meant that he would suffer only a temporary blow by being killed while on earth, for Jehovah would resurrect him to heavenly
glory. But the bruising of the serpent in the head would mean that the Devil would receive a death blow from which he would never recover.-Read Acts 2:31, 32; Hebrews 2:14.
Think of this, supposedly Jesus had lived in heaven for some time with Satan, working side by side as a brother, millions of years before the creation of humans on earth. Satan was not some invisible, unknown being but someone he knew intimately as a close family member.
I always wondered when Satan's rule over earth began, with the fall of Adam and Eve? until Jesus was resurrected and returned to heaven as king? Or until 1874, or 1878 or 1914 when Jesus became king over the earth? Are Satan and Jesus ruler over earth simultaneously?
Q 2. Why was Jehovah confident that Jesus would successfully resist the Devil?
2. Jehovah was confident that Jesus would successfully fulfill his assignment and oppose the Devil while on the earth. Why could Jehovah be so sure of this? Because he had created Jesus in heaven ages earlier, had observed him, and knew that his "master worker" and "firstborn of all creation" was obedient and faithful. (Prov. 8:22-31; Col. 1: 15) So when Jesus was sent to the earth and the Devil was allowed to test him to the
point of death, God was confident that His onlybegotten Son would come off victorious. -John 3:16.
If God was confident Jesus would be faithful, was that predestination, did Jesus have free will? God had created Adam and Eve but he did not seem to have the same confidence.
Jehovah Preserves His Servants
Q 3. What is the Devil's attitude toward Jehovah's servants?
3. Jesus referred to the Devil as "the ruler of this world" and warned His disciples that they would be persecuted, even as he had been. (John 12:31; 15:20) The world, lying in the power of Satan the Devil, hates true Christians because they serve Jehovah and are preachers of righteousness. (Matt. 24:9; 1 John 5:19) The Devil particularly targets the remnant of anointed ones who will eventually rule with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom. Satan also targets the many Witnesses of Jehovah who have the hope of living forever on a paradise earth. God's Word warns us: "Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone."-1 Pet. 5:8.
The WTS believes that Satan only targets the anointed and the other sheep only because of their association with the anointed.
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*** w01 8/15 p. 25 par. 3 Do Not Give Up in Doing What Is Fine ***
Jehovah’s people today should also expect tribulations. (1 Peter 1:6, 7) After all, Revelation 12:17 warns us that Satan is ‘waging war’ with the anointed remnant. Because of their close association with the anointed, the “other sheep” are likewise targets of Satan’s wrath. (John 10:16)
CARROT: living forever on a paradise earth
Q 4. What proves that God's people have successfully opposed the Devil in our time?
4. As an organization enjoying the support of Jehovah God, we successfully oppose the Devil. Consider these facts: In the past 100 years some of the most ferocious dictatorships in history have tried to stamp Jehovah's Witnesses out of existence. But the number of Witnesses continues to grow and has now reached nearly 7,000,000 in over 100,000 congregations throughout the world. The cruel dictatorships that persecuted Jehovah's people are the ones that have been stamped out of existence!
Where is the proof that the WTS is the only organization having God's support?
I would think it is foolishness to think that jws are the only group that dictatorships have tried to stamp out of existence---so quickly we forget the 6 million Jews and 6 million other groups that were systematically slaughtered, groups that are still here.
Q 5. How has Isaiah 54:17 proved true in the case of Jehovah's servants?
5. Speaking to the congregation of ancient Israel as his "woman" God promised: "Any weapon whatever that will be formed against you will have no success, and any tongue at all that will rise up against you in the judgment you will condemn. This is the hereditary possession of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness is from me." (Isa. 54: 11, 17) That promise has proved reliable in the case of Jehovah's people throughout the earth during these "last days." (2 Tim. 3:1-5, 13) We continue to oppose the Devil, and no weapon that he tries to use to wipe out God's people is successful, for Jehovah is on our side.-Ps. 118:6, 7.
Symbolic women in the WTS teachings
God's wife--heavenly organization made up of the angels
God's wife--earthly Israel until 36 C.E.
Christ's bride--144,000 anointed Christians
"Jehovah's people during these 'last days'"--only jws
No proof provided that this time is the "last days"
Q 6. What does Daniel's prophecy tell us about the future of the Devil's rulership?
6. At the rapidly approaching end of this entire wicked system of things, all aspects of Satan's rule will be crushed out of existence. Writing under divine inspiration, the prophet Daniel foretold: "In the days of those kings [existing in our day] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom [in heaven] that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms [now existing], and it itself will stand to times indefinite." (Dan. 2:44) When that happens, both satanic rule and rule by imperfect humans will disappear. Every aspect of the Devil's system of things will be gone forever, and God's Kingdom will rule unopposed over all the earth.-Read 2 Peter 3:-13.
rapidly approaching end--WTS said end was in 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1940's, 1975, (1984), (1994), starting more than 95 years ago.
The WTS neglects to explain that the end they speak of is the eternal destruction of all people, including children who are not jws.
If rule by imperfect humans will disappear, then how when the "princes" elders in jw congregations continue their "oversight" when do they reach perfection? 100 years into the "new system," 200, 500, 800?
Q 7. How do we know that Jehovah's servants as individuals can successfully oppose the Devil?
7. There is no doubt that Jehovah's organization will be preserved and will prosper spiritually. (Read Psalm 125:1, 2.) How about us? The Bible tells us that we can succeed in opposing the Devil, even as Jesus did. Indeed, the prophecy that Christ gave through the apostle John shows that despite satanic opposition, "a great crowd" of those having an earthly hope will survive this system's end. According to the Scriptures, they cry out: "Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [Jesus Christ]." (Rev. 7:9-14) Anointed ones are spoken of as
conquering Satan, and their companions, the "other sheep," also successfully oppose him. (John 10:16; Rev. 12:10, 11) But this requires diligent effort and earnest prayer for 'deliverance from the wicked one.' -Matt. 6:13.
NO DOUBT that "Jehovah's organization" (the WTS/FDS/GB) will be preserved--only jws
again the separation of terms of the "flock"--anointed ones...companions, the "other sheep" Where are the Christians?
The Perfect Example in Opposing the Devil
Q 8. What was the first recorded temptation that the Devil used against Jesus in the wilderness, and how did Christ respond?
8. The Devil tried to break the integrity of Jesus. In the wilderness, Satan used temptations in an effort to get Jesus to compromise His obedience to Jehovah. However, Jesus set a perfect example in opposing Satan. After fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus likely had a strong desire to eat. "If you are a son of God," said Satan, "tell these stones to become loaves of bread." But Jesus refused to make use of his God-given power for personal benefit. Instead, Jesus said: "It is written, 'Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah's mouth.'"--Matt. 4:1-4; Deut. 8:3.
While Jesus may not have used his God-given power for personal benefit, how many jws have you known to use their jw contacts for financial benefit?
Q 9. Why must we resist the Devil's attempts to exploit our natural physical desires?
9. Today, the Devil seeks to exploit the natural physical desires of Jehovah's servants. We must therefore be resolute in resisting illicit sexual temptations, which are especially common in this immoral world. God's Word emphatically states: "What! Do you not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men ... will inherit God's kingdom." (1 Cor. 6:9, 10) Clearly, then, people who live immoral lives and refuse to change will not be allowed to live in God's new world.
If the WTS is so concerned out Satan exploiting "natural" physical desires, why do they protect pedophiles in their midst?
Even people who do not live immoral lives will not be allowed to live in "God's new world" because they are not baptized Jehovah's Witnesses.
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*** w89 9/1 p. 19 par. 7 Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium ***Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the “great crowd,” as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil. (Revelation 7:9-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4) They will make up the “flesh” that Jesus Christ said would be saved through the worst tribulation of all human history.
Q 10. According to Matthew 4:5, 6, what was another temptation that Satan used in an attempt to break Jesus' integrity?
10. Concerning one of the temptations Jesus experienced in the wilderness, the Scriptures state: "The Devil took him along into the holy city, and he stationed him upon the battlement of the temple and said to him: 'If you are a son of God, hurl yourself down; for it is written, "He will give his angels a charge concerning you, and they will carry you on their hands, that you may at no time strike your foot against a stone." (Matt. 4:5, 6) Supposedly, this would result in a spectacular display of Jesus' Messiahship. In reality, though, it would have been an improper, arrogant act that
would not have had God's approval and support. Once more, Jesus maintained his integrity to Jehovah and responded by quoting a scripture. He said: "Again it is written, 'You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.' "--Matt. 4:7; Deut. 6:16.
Jehovah's Witnesses would respond to Satan this way, "Again it is written in the WT publications...."
Q 11. How may Satan tempt us, and what could be the result?
11. Satan may tempt us to seek glory in various ways. He may try to induce us to imitate worldly fads in dress and grooming or to engage in questionable entertainment. But if we were to ignore Bible counsel and imitate the world, could we expect the angels to shield us from the bad effects of such a course? Although King David repented of his sins involving Bathsheba, he was not shielded from the consequences of his actions. (2 Sam. 12:9-12) Let us not put Jehovah to the test in improper ways, perhaps by cultivating friendship with the world.-Read James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17.
Satan MAY tempt us to SEEK GLORY...how by wearing denim skirts and have sideburns 1/4 of an inch too long.
What is "questionable" entertainment? Is it wrong to go to Harry Potter movies but watch the Wizard of Oz at home?
"the world" all nonjws
Yes, David was not shielded, his first son by Bathsheba died, his wives were publicly raped, yet he somehow avoided the punishment meted out to all other Israelites that committed adultery and murder.
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*** it-1 p. 344 Blood ***
Because of God’s view of the value of life, the blood of a murdered person is said to defile the earth, and such defilement can be cleansed only by shedding the blood of the murderer. On this basis the Bible authorizes capital punishment for murder, through duly constituted authority. (Nu 35:33; Ge 9:5, 6) In ancient Israel no ransom could be taken to deliver the deliberate murderer from the death penalty.—Nu 35:19-21, 31.
Q 12. What was the temptation mentioned at Matthew 4:8, 9, and how did God's Son respond?
12. Still another temptation that the Devil used in the wilderness involved an offer to give Jesus political power. Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory and said: "All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me." (Matt. 4:8, 9) What an unscrupulous attempt to get the worship belonging to Jehovah and to induce Jesus to prove unfaithful to God! By meditating on the desire to be worshipped, that once loyal angel had become the sinful, covetous, and grossly evil tempter Satan the Devil. (Jas. 1:14, 15) In stark contrast, however, Jesus was determined to remain faithful to his heavenly Father and therefore declared: "Go away, Satan! For it is written, 'It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.' " Thus Jesus again opposed the Devil in clear and definite terms. God's Son wanted no part of Satan's world and would never worship that wicked one! -Matt. 4:10; Deut. 6:13; 10:20.
Are all non-jws worshipers of Satan in that he is the "god of this system" (2 Cor 4:4)?
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*** w90 12/1 p. 6 Which God Should You Worship? ***
The apostle John said that “the whole world” is lying in his power, and Paul called him “the god of this system of things.” (1 John 5:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4) Hence, worship of any god apart from Jehovah is really worship of Satan.
"Oppose the Devil, and He Will Flee From You"
Q 13, 14. a) By showing Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, what was the Devil offering him? (b) How does Satan attempt to corrupt us?
13. By showing Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, the Devil was offering him unprecedented human power. Satan hoped that what Jesus saw would appeal to him and convince him that he could become the earth's most powerful political leader. Today, the Devil does not offer us kingdoms, but he does attempt to corrupt our hearts through our eyes, ears, and minds.
14. The Devil is in control of this world. Hence, he controls its media; It is not surprising, therefore, that the world's viewing, listening, and reading material is saturated with immorality and violence. This world's advertising elements try to build in us a desire for a flood of consumer goods that we do not need. By such means, the Devil constantly tempts us with materialistic attractions that can appeal to our eyes, ears, and minds. But when we refuse to view, listen to, and read Scripturally unacceptable material, we are in effect saying: "Go away, Satan!" We thus imitate Jesus in being firm and decisive in our rejection of Satan's unclean world. The fact that we are no part of Satan's world is also seen in how we courageously identify ourselves as Jehovah's Witnesses and Christ's followers at work, at school, in the neighborhood, and among our relatives. -Read Mark 8:38.
So what entertainment has no immorality or violence in it? Should we not read the Bible because of such stories as the following?
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(Judges 19:22-30) 22 While they were making their hearts feel good, look! the men of the city, mere good-for-nothing men, surrounded the house, shoving one another against the door; and they kept saying to the old man, the owner of the house: “Bring out the man that came into your house, that we may have intercourse with him.” 23 At that the owner of the house went on out to them and said to them: “No, my brothers, do not do anything wrong, please, since this man has come into my house. Do not commit this disgraceful folly. 24 Here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out, please, and YOU rape them and do to them what is good in YOUR eyes. But to this man YOU must not do this disgraceful, foolish thing.” 25 And the men did not want to listen to him. Hence the man took hold of his concubine and brought her forth to them outside; and they began to have intercourse with her, and kept on abusing her all night long until the morning, after which they sent her off at the ascending of the dawn. 26 Then the woman came as it was turning to morning, and fell down at the entrance of the man’s house where her master was,—until daylight. 27 Later her master rose up in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to get on his way, and, look! the woman, his concubine, fallen at the entrance of the house with her hands upon the threshold! 28 So he said to her: “Rise up, and let us go.” But there was no one answering. At that the man took her upon the ass and rose up and went to his place. 29 Then he entered his house and took the slaughtering knife and laid hold of his concubine and cut her up according to her bones into twelve pieces and sent her into every territory of Israel. 30 And it occurred that everybody seeing it said: “Such a thing as this has never been brought about or been seen from the day that the sons of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt down to this day. Set YOUR hearts upon it, take counsel and speak.”
As to consumer goods and materialistic attractions did we as jws see people driving older cars, living in apartments rather than owing their own homes, not buying electronic equipment but donating the money to the WTS?
So do jws really identify themselves as jws to people at work, school, neighbors, and relatives? How many identify themselves as jws when they knock on the door of a non-jw? Did you? How many say they are Christians or is their first response, "I'm a Jehovah's Witness"?
Q 15. Why does opposing Satan mean being continually alert?
15. After the Devil's third unsuccessful attempt to get Jesus to compromise His integrity to God, "the Devil left him." (Matt. 4:11) However, Satan did not intend to stop tempting Jesus, for we are told: "So the Devil, having concluded all the temptation [in the wilderness], retired from him until another convenient time." (Luke 4:13) When we succeed in opposing the Devil, we should thank Jehovah. But we should also seek God's continued help, for the Devil will return to tempt us at another time convenient for him--and not necessarily when we may be expecting a temptation. Hence, we must remain alert at all times, ready to persevere in rendering sacred service to Jehovah regardless of the tests we must face.
So does the Devil come back many times to tempt each individual jw?
Q 16. Jehovah gives us what powerful force, and why should we pray for it?
16. To help us in our efforts to oppose the Devil, we should pray for and will receive the most powerful force in the universe--God's holy spirit. It will enable us to do things that would be impossible for us to do in our own strength. Jesus assured his followers of the availability of God's spirit by saying: "If you, although being [imperfect and thus comparatively] wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!" (Luke 11:13) Let us continue praying to Jehovah for his holy spirit. With this most powerful force backing us up in our determination to oppose the Devil, we will be able to come off victorious. In addition to regular and fervent prayer, we need to put on the complete suit of spiritual armor from God in order 'to stand firm against the machinations, or crafty acts, of the
Devil.--Eph. 6: 11-18.
How does the WTS explain that individual jws receive holy spirit?
Since the other sheep are not considered spirit-anointed, how or why would they receive holy spirit?
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*** w07 6/1 p. 7 The Source of Evil Exposed! ***
How can one receive holy spirit? Primarily through prayer, Bible study—the Bible itself being a product of holy spirit—and wholesome association with those who truly love God.
Q 17. What joy helped Jesus resist the Devil?
17. Something else helped Jesus to oppose the Devil, and it can help us too. The Bible states: "For the joy that was set before [Jesus] he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb. 12:2) We can have similar joy by upholding Jehovah's sovereignty, honoring his holy name, and keeping the reward of everlasting life before us. What joy we will experience when
Satan and all his works are obliterated forever and 'the meek ones themselves possess the earth and find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace'! (Ps. 37:11) Therefore, keep on opposing the Devil, as Jesus did.-Read James 4:7, 8.
upholding Jehovah's sovereignty = upholding the WTS sovereignty
honoring his holy name = Jehovah, which is the construction by a priest in 1200 A.D.
How can they be honoring his name by associating with the UN as a non-governmental organization and protecting pedophiles in their organization?
CARROT--reward of everlasting life
After all 6.5 billion plus non-jws are "obliterated" forever.
How Would You Answer?
What proof is there that Jehovah preserves his people?
How did Jesus set an example in opposing Satan?
In what way can you oppose the devil?
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Sorry folks, Blondie has been battling the mother of all colds. This has been a very blah article. The fact that they could only muster up 17
paragraphs is one indicator of that.
Once again, the WTS has not gone into much detail about the "dangers" leaving the door open for much personal interpretation by elders and
other jws.
Love, Blondie
...OUTLAW